ISTANBUL

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will hold bilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to “solidify” bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Li arrived in the Gulf nation late Wednesday after concluding his two-day trip to Saudi Arabia.

“The two countries have maintained close communication and coordination on multilateral platforms, continuously contributing to peace, stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world at large,” Li said after landing in the UAE.

Li flew to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The two sides are marking 40 years of establishing diplomatic ties this year, according to a handout from Beijing.

“I look forward to deepen and solidify China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership and achieve more fruitful results in exchanges and cooperation in various fields,” the Chinese premier said.

In Riyadh, Li co-chaired with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fourth meeting of the high-level Chinese-Saudi joint committee where he said Saudi Arabia was a “priority” for Beijing's Middle East diplomacy.

Recalling UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited China in May, Li said it has “drawn a new blueprint for China-UAE ties, charting the course and injecting strong momentum for advancing bilateral relations and cooperation.”

The UAE is the largest export market for China in the Gulf and the volume of bilateral trade reached around $95 billion last year.

Under Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, two sides have implemented several projects like enhancing Chinese-UAE industrial capabilities while projects like the second phase of the container terminal at Khalifa Port, and the Dubai Photovoltaic Thermal Power Plant are under progress.

China and the UAE are also cooperating in building the world's first artificial intelligence university in Abu Dhabi.